The coin Nathan tossed flipped vigorously in the air until it fell back into his hand. He took a short glance at it and turned his gaze towards his mother.
"Heads." He declared to everyone.
"It's settled, then," Elder nodded in an acknowledging grin, "Wasn't that difficult, was it?"
"The Divine Beings' decision," the Indescribable said flatly, secretly sending a stroke of compliment to Nathan's mind.
Everything that had happened so far seemed hilariously absurd, but no one was in the mood for laughing. There had been a countless number of times when conflicts sparked between the Rune Arts Federation and the Pathtowers, but never once over such a minor issue. Citizens began to value Nathan's significance to this kingdom even higher than it already was, which marked him as not much lower than the Divine Beings themselves.
No matter which angle you looked at it from, Nathan's status weighed more than the King's and the First Seat's, which no one thought was possible. Yet, accepting this truth felt so easy, because no one told them. They were the ones who witnessed it and reached the conclusion themselves.
Time was slow to the audience when the 14 members from the Rune Arts Federation came up to Nathan one by one and shared a couple of sentences with him, but to Nathan, he only hoped that it could be slower so he could compose his words more smartly.
Nathan didn't want to expose his mother's lies about his father's identity last time, even though she promised that she would tell the truth. Thinking about it, there was not a single sentence that wasn't factual. She just didn't correct the incomplete prediction Nathan made himself.
"Don't panic before King Runaria," V comforted quietly; the distance and the noisiness of the atmosphere hid the content of their exchange from the crowd, "He's very similar to your father. Sometimes even I couldn't distinguish between them."
Nathan's image of his mother instantly leaped towards the version he saw in Agnes's memory. There were simply no similarities between the two figures. He was convinced that his mother probably created a clone of herself with her incomparable Rune Arts Mastery.
Holding his laughter in at the thought of the misunderstandings Viviana Modernson, with her personality from before, could have had with the royal brothers, Nathan joked, "Compared to His Majesty, I'm more worried about your subordinates, and those four…" Nathan left out his sentence.
"Rightfully so," Viviana shook her head in resignation, "Good luck, I know you can handle it. The coin flip from earlier was a splendid choice; not many could have chosen the best decision."
Mirror was the next in line. His voice was humble and respectful, especially coming from someone his age, particularly when the person he was talking to was the one who brutally humiliated and almost killed his son.
"Mister Modernson, it's a shame that we only got to talk to each other now."
"I've met you before…" Nathan replied with controlled excitement, "From the memory records passed down in the Student Council."
Mirror's eyes had a pale white light glimmering with wisdom and calmness, but he still froze for a brief moment. He lowered his head in grief, "Ah, I forgot about that… Not the things that happened, of course; I remember them better than the lunch I had."
"I'm afraid the Andrew Helmander standing in front of you is already nothing like the 405th President of the Student Council you met." He sighed, not energised enough to hide his sorrow, "If I could, I really hope I could tell someone what happened back then, but unfortunately, I don't know enough about it to make a point."
"Again, glad to meet you, Nathan, until next time," Mirror lowered his head again and retreated to the crowd, only to turn back around at Nathan's call, "Excuse me, Mister Helmander."
"I'm extremely sorry for what I did to your son."
Nathan threw his two wands onto the ground and bowed deeply, the gesture that signified the highest respect or atonement to another Rune Artist.
Mirror bent his waist to pick up the two wands and secured them on Nathan's belt, his movement slow and deliberate. This, though, may seem like a gesture to accept the apology sincerely, but it meant something else.
It meant "You don't have to apologise at all."
"You must think I hate you a lot for what you did," Mirror sighed again, "But really, I'm glad there was someone who could teach him a lesson. Edgar is an ignorant boy, always so full of himself; it's only good that you, who are both stronger and more exalted, could delve his arrogance out."
Though his voice sounded serene and soft as it always had been, Nathan couldn't seek truthfulness out of his words. This was expected, but it pained him no less, like how everyone anticipated their last day, but barely any could live it with a smile on their face. At this moment, Nathan Modernson realised that being a rascal came with a cost, a mental torment that burned. It was something that he must get used to, for the path before him was destined to be full of guilt.
The Third Seat, Elder, seemed younger than a figure Nathan would've pictured with that nickname. He seemed like an ordinary old man who didn't really care about too much apart from today's weather. His voice, however, peculiarly echoed in the air.
"There is nothing more delightful for an old man than seeing someone as unique as you, Nathan Modernson. Perhaps, just like how the prophecy foretold, you really will change this kingdom forever. For one of the few times in my long life, I feel fortunate to have chosen immortality."
Nathan knew that Elder was probably referring to The New Prophecy, in which he had slowly begun to accept that he was the subject of a prophecy. Seeing that the oldest citizen of Lostburg thought this way too, he couldn't help but smile genuinely, "I'm not the first unique person you've met, and certainly, I won't be the last."
Elder shook his head, "I'd have to deny that possibility. If what you pull off impresses me, then I'll probably let this life finally go. Thinking about it, I've been living for the sake of living for no one knows how long."
The conversations between Nathan and the Fourth and Fifth Seats, Aurora and Pilgrim, were so tasteless that Nathan forgot all about them moments later. The only thing he remembered was how Aurora's beauty reminded him of the maiden in Isterann, which Henry did inform him was her daughter, and how much Pilgrim already knew about him, as he had always been watching his life from a distance. Nathan felt like he had met this Pilgrim guy at some point in his life, but that experience was probably too hasty or coincidental for him to remember lucidly.
As for the Sixth Seat, Redhair, it was basically the same as the first time they met. The only difference was that Redhair was no longer startled by the "aura" Nathan emitted. The Seventh Seat, Ivy, was another weird one. She was the only one who didn't really pay much acknowledgement to Nathan's significance, saying that she basically got forced to meet him and would rather be sleeping at home. Nathan wasn't that bothered, though, nor did he feel the need to change her outlook towards him.
As for the seven departments' presidents, their personalities were much more ordinary and professional. Nathan recognised some faces, like Sean Stonewall and Stanson Sothros, and shared a couple more words with Joshua Gravekin about Joseph. As possibly the most well-trained assassin in the kingdom, Nathan couldn't sense anything from Joshua that gave away his attitude towards his son having a friend like him.
Overall, their conversations were relatively shorter and all ended on a reassuring note that resembled something like, "If you ever need help from the field we supervise, the seven departments are there for you." This was a bit frightening when Joshua said so, however.
As a side note, the seven departments of the Rune Arts Federation are the Department of Civil Rights and Stability, the Department of Investigation and Crime Management, the Department of Resources and Territorial Oversight, the Department of Rune Arts Control and Regulation, the Department of Intrarealm Relations and Dominion, the Department of Assassination and Extreme Measures, and the Department of Prophetical and Historical Continuity, respectively. The names explained themselves fairly well. Holding support from the Seven Departments meant that there were few things that Nathan didn't have a say in across the kingdom's authority.
When it was finally the turn of the Pathtower Spireheads, things were very chill and simple when Nathan's two mentors came up, but Nathan just had a feeling that the remaining two would make everything spiral out of control. He took a deep breath when the Undefeatable walked towards him in wide, demanding steps that made the edge of the crowd retreat a few steps back.
"Nathan Modernson, do you remember me?" she questioned with a face so cold that it sent a chill down Nathan's spine.
"You saved my life once, Mrs Pompeii; the day I forget about you will be the day Nathan Modernson dies." He lowered his head in respect, genuinely grateful.
"Then," the Undefeatable continued, "Do you want to become my apprentice?"
Nathan couldn't believe what he had just heard. Did the strongest Rune Artist in terms of combat, or otherwise a mass murderer who killed without the blink of an eye, just casually ask him to take an apprenticeship under her?
Even ignoring who she was, Nathan already had two mentors, which was not considered the most virtuous deed in Runalond. If he accepted her offer, then he would be the apprentice of every Pathtower Spirehead but the Indecipherable, but he couldn't hold back the thought that it was only a matter of time before that exception was removed.
"Me?" Nathan pointed at himself, providing some extra time for thought, "As your apprentice?"
"As someone who saved your life, is that too big of a request to ask?" She countered Nathan's question with one of her own. The tone was as flat and cold as before.
As Nathan dwelled on this matter, he realised that maybe it wasn't as bad as it sounded. Lily was there to teach him the foundation of Rune Arts and the development of his own personalised one. The Indescribable was responsible for his historical knowledge and how to act in this kingdom where conflicts were both irresolvable and forced. As for Angela Pompeii, she could point him towards a road where he could engage in Rune Arts Combat despite the limitations of his Elemental Traits, without having to use his clunky excuse for a Personalised Rune Art.
Nathan clenched his teeth in carelessness, like he had made up his mind on something after years of thought. Who cares about virtue and ethics? Not like he needed them to reach his goals.
"Of course I want to become your apprentice!" Nathan's eyes lit up. He felt like his expression was slightly too forced for it to be completely believable. "It's something I wouldn't even dare to wish for in my dreams!"
The Undefeatable leered, "I knew you wanted to; of course you do."
"But you are not worthy enough, Nathan Modernson. You must prove yourself worthy to be mentored by me."
Nathan cursed in his heart. He had never seen anyone ask someone to do something and then critique them for not being worthy, not even among the scoundrels in Lostburg, not even himself when he pretended to be a jerk.
But before her, he had no choice but to keep his thoughts to himself. "I won't disappoint you," he claimed with determination.
"Sure you won't." Her tone became softer. "The entrance examination is a very straightforward task. You should feel ashamed if you can't complete it."
"Cease the Infinite Explosion in my clan's manor, that's it."
Nathan froze in place. That was a task that no one had ever bothered trying. Even the Sixth Seat himself couldn't stop the Rune Art once it had been activated. How was it ever possible for him, a mere light- and darkness-element Rune Artist who had nothing to do with the associated elements in Infinite Explosions?
"What, too difficult for you?" the Undefeatable raised an eyebrow.
"I'll figure out a way." Nathan swallowed his hesitation and promised.
"Then it's settled." The Undefeatable turned around. "Whenever you turn my house back to normal, it will be the time I take you in as an apprentice."
She suddenly realised something and jerked her head around, "Oh, right, don't worry. I won't tell the Undefinable about this."
Nathan nodded hastily in thankfulness, but the weight of an uncompletable task now pulled his heart into his stomach. He couldn't understand why Angela Pompeii would want to cease the explosion that had already turned her home into empty dust. Even if he could manage to pull it off, the Pompeii Clan's manor would never return to what it was before.
He tried to push back these negative thoughts as he faced towards the Indecipherable and smiled, welcoming the last, and possibly the most unique, guest to join him.
However, the Indecipherable didn't move, only announcing in a voice that miraculously appeared to be the same volume for everyone around despite the distance.
"Excessive time resources have already been expended. Further verbal communication is deemed unnecessary. Our priority is assessed as punctual attendance at the Royal Court. Should Mister Modernson desire interaction, he may locate me at any designated time in the Tower of Development."
These words were reported, not spoken. As they entered Nathan's ears, he began to doubt his previous perspective on technology. If everyone were transformed into this lifeless system where emotions were considered redundant and speech was calculated rather than thought, then what even was the point of humanity's transcendence?
Nathan's mind, which had barely begun to fracture the cage named Lostburg that had defined his thoughts for 16 years of life, had always been constructed, deconstructed, and reconstructed in ways like this. However, at a point that he couldn't clearly specify the exact date of, he began to judge no longer the older version of himself that might have held differing opinions.
After all, who's right and who's wrong had always been up for debate, even amongst oneself.